According to statistics from the Ministry of Environment, vehicle noise accounted for 32% of all noise complaints in 2023, making it a primary source of noise pollution. To effectively control noisy vehicles and create a more livable city, Taoyuan City Deputy Mayor Su Chun-Pin advocated for legislative amendments at an Executive Yuan meeting in 2023. Following his initiative, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications jointly implemented a certification system for modified exhaust systems in 2024, establishing the “Certification Management Regulations for Replacement Muffler Systems on Motor Vehicles” and revising the “Regulations Governing Road Traffic Safety.”
To align with the new policies, the Department of Environmental Protection (TYDEP) of the Taoyuan City Government began assisting vehicle owners with noise testing for replacement exhaust systems in 2024. Test results were directly uploaded to facilitate the registration of exhaust system modifications without requiring owners to visit motor vehicle offices. Starting January 1, 2025, owners of vehicles equipped with uncertified exhaust systems will face fines of up to NT$1,800 under the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act. Vehicles that fail on-site noise inspections due to excessive emissions from uncertified exhaust systems may incur additional fines of up to NT$3,600 under the Noise Control Act. This initiative aims to integrate central government legislation with local enforcement for comprehensive regulation of vehicle noise pollution.
Members of the Silent Taoyuan Alliance reaffirmed their commitment to combating noisy vehicles during a coordination meeting on December 16, 2024. Starting January 1, 2025, the alliance will strictly inspect vehicles lacking certified exhaust systems and enforce measures such as police reports on noisy vehicles, AI recognition technology, and AI-enabled patrol vehicles. These efforts include on-site noise testing and strict penalties for vehicles using illegal modifications, ensuring a quieter and more peaceful environment for Taoyuan residents.
The TYDEP emphasized that starting January 1, 2025, vehicle owners who fail to complete online registration or whose exhaust systems do not pass certification will be required to pay for noise testing at noise laboratories authorized by the Ministry of Environment. Upon passing the test, owners must then register the exhaust modification with the motor vehicles office, incurring an additional motorcycle inspection fee of NT$200. As of December 15, 2024, a total of 145 inspection sessions had been conducted for exhaust system certification, with 3,951 vehicles inspected. Among these, 3,533 vehicles successfully passed certification and completed the registration process.
The TYDEP reminded vehicle owners that completing exhaust system certification and registration by the end of 2024 ensures the legal use of modified exhaust systems. However, if noise levels exceed legal limits due to improper driving behavior, unauthorized modifications, or poor vehicle maintenance leading to exhaust system damage, owners will face fines ranging from NT$1,800 to NT$3,600 under the Noise Control Act, even for certified exhaust systems.